The Twenty-first was mustered into service Oct. 13, 1861, at Mobile, and
remained at Hall's Mill and Fort Gaines till ordered to Fort Pillow in March
1862. It remained there a few days, then moved to Corinth, where it was
brigaded under Gen. Gladden. The regiment took part in the battle of Shiloh,
where it lost six color-bearers in succession, and 200 killed and wounded out
of about 650 engaged and was complimented in general orders. On the return to
Corinth, the regiment was reorganized, and extended their enlistment from one
year to "for the war." The Twenty-first was at Farmington, but its
casualties were few. In the summer the regiment was ordered to Mobile, and was
on garrison duty at Fort Morgan, and at Oven and Chocta Bluffs.* It was at
Pollard a short time under Gen. Cantey, but was then ordered to the defenses
of Mobile. Two companies were stationed at Fort Powell, where, with a loss of
one killed, they withstood a bombardment of a fortnight from five gun-boats
and six mortar-boats which attempted to force an entrance through Grant's
Pass. Six companies of the regiment were captured at Fort Gaines, and two at
Fort Morgan; but the two at Fort Powell blew up and evacuated the post. The
men captured at Fort Gaines were exchanged, the others were not. The remainder
of the regiment were part of the garrison of Spanish Fort, where it lost about
10 killed and 25 wounded. The Twenty-first was surrendered at Cuba, in Sumter,
May 6, 1865, about 250 strong. It is but just to say that the Twenty-first was
composed largely of artisans from Mobile, many of whom were detached to assist
in the various government works.

*It was while the regiment lay at Mobile
that a sub-marine boat was constructed to operate against the blockading
squadron. After ten or fifteen men had been lost by the sudden sinking of the
vessel, Lieut. George E. Dixon, of Capt. Cothran's company, with several of
his men, volunteered to man it. But the current at the entrance of the bay was
too strong, and Dixon and his men accompanied it to Charleston. There it went
to sea one night, and blew up the Housatonic, of the federal blockading
squadron, causing her to sink, with all her crew. The fate of Dixon and his
men was not known till after the peace, when his boat was found by the side of
the Housatonic, and in its air-tight walls were encoffined the skeletons of
the brave crew. Dixon was a Kentuckian by birth and an engineer by profession.

The
Alabama Civil War Roots' webmaster, James D. Allen,
passed away February 5, 2003. His tireless
dedication to making available information on all our
Civil War ancestors will always be our inspiration.
We dedicate the continuation of this site to him. Jimmy,
we miss you.